6 bold Vikings predictions for free agency and the 2022 NFL Draft
By Chris Schad
Minnesota will trade Cousins
Before anything can happen, the Vikings will have to make a decision on the future of Kirk Cousins. Cousins enters this season with a $45 million cap hit, and with the Vikings’ cap situation, there’s almost no way he plays on that number.
But with the desire to be “super competitive,” there’s a case that keeping Cousins is in the best interest of the Vikings.
Cousins is the first quarterback in franchise history to start at least 16 games in four straight seasons. He’s put up 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in three of his four seasons in Minnesota. And as many people on Twitter will tell you, the Vikings’ shortcomings haven’t entirely been his fault.
With O’Connell envisioning a better support system, it’s clear the Vikings are willing to accommodate Cousins. The only problem is that Cousins needs to also accommodate the Vikings.
Early reports have indicated that Cousins isn’t willing to take a team-friendly deal to lower his cap number. Instead, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that Cousins is looking for an extension that will pay him $40 million annually.
Could the Vikings make this work? Absolutely. Would it help the long-term future of the team? Absolutely not.
With several teams desperate for an upgrade at quarterback, there might not be a better time to trade Cousins. Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson both were taken off the market on Tuesday, which means Cousins could be the most coveted quarterback on the market. That leaves the Vikings with an opportunity to move on and build upon some of their weaknesses.